Wireless Telemetry in Underground Coal Mining

The ability to transmit data reliably, remotely and wirelessly measure geotechnical and environmental data, or to remotely control blasting offer significant benefits to safety and productivity. MST’s communication data highway, combined with smart end devices, allow a range of monitoring and remote control applications to be undertaken by a mine operator to improve efficiency in a number of key areas, such as ventilation, vehicle management, reliable SCADA data links, pumping and safety systems.

Applications

Wireless Repeater Node (WRN)

The WRN is Mine Site Technologies recently developed Mobile, Self-meshing Access Point intended for the ad-hoc extension of a mine’s Wi-Fi network into the most hazardous and developing mine environments.

With Patent Pending, it is the world’s lightest, most portable, most reliable and most cost effective self-meshing Wi-Fi device.

The FIN System is based on installing a VIP Data Logger / Wi-Fi Bridge module on mining equipment, such as continuous miners & shuttle to log, and stream in real-time, critical parameters to better manage the use and maintenance of that piece of equipment. Depending what on-board diagnostics is installed the VIP unit simply interfaces to the required outputs, logs them, and streams the data via the ImPact Digital Network to the server whenever in range of an underground access point. The unit is not I.S but is installed in FLP enclosures where this is an accepted method of protection.

This data can be such things as:

Motor parameters

Tramming mode

Load

More relevant to delivering value to the mine, this basic data can be analysed and reports created to quickly identify bottlenecks or in efficiencies in the mining system. An example being accurately recording cycle times for shuttle car trips to the boot end form the continuous miner, and raising alerts should any cycle go outside of pre-determined averages.

MST makes this data available to any other in-house or third party application the mine would like to use, allowing the management and maintenance processes to be further enhanced.